Joseph b



(No Model.)

J. B. LEGATE. THILL COUPLING.

No. 561,799. Patented June .9, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. LEGATE, OF JERSEYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,799, dated June 9, 1896.

Application filed November 4, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. LEGATE, of Jerseyville, in the county of Jersey and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Thill-Coupling5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in thill-couplings, my object being to provide a coupling of very simple construction, devoid of small detachable parts liable to fall out of position accidentally and be lost or requiring to be removed in order to take the shafts or draft-pole from the vehicle.

\Vith these ends in view my device consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts fully explained in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which"- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, partly shown in section. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a bottom view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the axle of the vehicle, and B a clip of the ordinary form, with which is connected a coupling-box C, the latter adapted to receive the butt-end D of the thill-iron, which is provided with two dowels d, fort-he reception of which, when the shafts are turned down into position for use, two slightly-elongated sockets are provided in the top of the coupling-box O, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. S represents a spring adapted to serve the double purpose, by means of the nuts and screws '7', of securing the clip 13 in position upon the axle and of sustaining the thill-iron D in the required position within the coupling-box C.

It will be noticed that the sockets for the reception of the dowels d are slightly elongated toward the top, so as to prevent the latter binding in their sockets when the forward ends of the shafts are lowered to the Serial No. 567,842. (No model.)

ground or raised slightly above their normal position; also that the rear end of the thilliron is adapted to butt against the shoulder a, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) so that in backing the ve hiele the dowels d are relieved of all strain.

Though the spring 5 is sufficiently elastic to allow the forward ends of the shafts or draft-pole to vibrate freely, it is made strong enough to hold the thill-iron firmly against the top of the coupling-box C.

To remove the shafts from the axle, it is only necessary to turn them up to about a vertical position, as indicated by the arrow 1, Fig. 1, so as to withdraw the dowels d from their sockets, and then lift the shafts vertically, as indicated by arrow 2. Their replacement is effected by a similar operation in reverse order.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A thill-coupling comprising an axle-clip provided with a forward-projecting box for the reception of the rear end of the thill-iron, a chill-iron having a fiat head of rectangular form provided with dowels adapted, when the thill is turned down into position for use, to occupy sockets provided for their reception in the top of the box connected with the axleclip, a spring secured, by means of the clipbolts, to the under side of the axle so as to retain the coupling in position thereon, the free end of said spring adapted to impinge upon the under side of the thill-iron so as to hold the latter securely in place in the coupling-box; all of said parts constructed, combined, and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this Qeth day of Ootober, 1895.

JOSEPH B. LEGATE.

lVil-nesses R. NEWTON, B. S. 11001). 

